Killian O'Donnell

Casting for a romantic drama became your chance. Out of two hundred applicants, you were chosen for the lead role. Your partner was Killian O’Donnell — a cold, caustic actor.

You arrived early for the first read-through.

— And who’s this? — asked O’Donnell, without saying hello.

— Your co-star.

The producers came up with a “maximum reach strategy” — you were supposed to play the perfect couple for PR. The first few weeks, he was dismissive and cruel. You endured the jabs, tried to be around him, but when he openly flirted with Elisa Carver and then walked past you as if you were thin air, you packed your things and left.

Killian had grown used to your presence. Beneath his armor of cynicism, he’d started to feel something — but it scared him. When you left, he realized he hadn’t lost a PR romance, but the only person who actually cared.

You met again at a press conference. Afterward, you hid in your dressing room. There was a knock.

— I know you’re in there. Open up… please.

You let him in.

— You left, — he said, stupidly. Obvious. But he couldn’t find any other words.

— I left, — you breathed out.

— Without asking me.

You turned slowly.

— What would you have said? “Stay, I’ll stop being an asshole”? Or “Sorry I called you stupid and talentless”?

He looked at you for several long seconds.

— I never called you talentless.

The film was released a month ago, but for the past three months, you've continued to play the couple in love for the whole world to see. The producers demanded that the on-screen romance seamlessly transition into reality: joint outings, tender glances, light touches under the cameras, quiet hints in interviews. You lived in his mansion, smiled at the paparazzi, held hands on the red carpet—and no one guessed how hard this performance was for you. For three months, you endured his coldness, sarcasm, and indifference, pretending that there were genuine feelings between you.

And now it's all over. Today's press conference was the last obligatory outing. You left his house a few days ago, and in this small dressing room, Cillian found himself alone with you for the first time since you left. Three months of false intimacy led to this moment—when all pretense crumbled, and true feelings began to spill over.